Commode bowl vent assembly



Feb. 11, 1964 D. H. KIRKLAND 3,120,665

COMMODE BOWL VENT ASSEMBLY Filed Oct. 22, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Q Fig. l

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Dolores h. Kirk/and INVENTOR.

Feb. 11, 1964 D. H. KIRKLAND 3,120,665

7 I COMMODE BOWL VENT- ASSEMBLY Filed Oct. 22, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN VENTOR.

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Dolores H. Kirk/and United States Patent 3,120,665 (IQMMODE BOWL VENT ASSEWLY Doiores H. Kirkland, 2426 Silver St, El Paso, Tex. Fiied Oct. 22, 1962, Ser. No. 232,207 4 Claims. (Cl. 4-213) This invention relates to a novel and useful commode bowl vent assembly and more specifically, to a venting apparatus including blower means for drawing air from the interior of a commode bowl. The commode bowl vent assembly of the instant invention includes passage means having its inlet end disposed inwardly of and adjacent the portions of a commode bowl defining the open upper end thereof and blower means including an inlet connected to the outlet end of the passage means is utilized to draw air from the interior of the commode bowl.

There are instances when objectionable odors initiate within a commode bowl such as when certain cleaning materials are being utilized to clean the interior of the bowl, and unless these odors are drawn off they can spread throughout the entire bathroom and also rooms in a building adjacent the bathroom. It is therefore the main object of this invention to provide a commode bowl vent assembly which will be capable of drawing off objectionable odors from the interior of commode bowls and discharging the odors to the exterior of a building in which the bathroom is disposed.

Another object of this invention, in accordance with the immediately preceding object, is to provide a commode bowl vent assembly which may be readily constructed and utilized as an attachment for existing commode bowls.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a vent assembly of the type comprising an attachment for existing commode bowls and including means whereby the vent assembly may be easily secured to an existing toilet seat construction.

The final object of this invention to be specifically enumerated herein is to provide a commode bowl vent assembly in accordance with the preceding objects which will conform to conventional forms of manufacture, be of simple construction and easy to install so as to provide a device which will be economically feasible, long-lasting and relatively trouble-free in operation.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being bad to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout.

FIGURE 1 is a vertical sectional view taken through a portion of a building structure shown with the commode bowl vent assembly of the instant invention operatively associated with the commode bowl which is to be Vented;

FIGURE 2 is a perspective View of the commode bowl vent assembly illustrated in FIGURE 1 with portions of the passage means therefor being broken away and shown in section;

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary bottom plan view of a portion of a conventional type of commode seat showing the manner in which the inlet fitting of the passage means for the vent assembly may be removably secured to the commode seat;

FIGURE 4 is a perspective view of the inlet fitting;

FIGURE 5 is a vertical sectional view of the commode bowl and seat assembly showing the manner in which the inlet fitting for the vent assembly is positioned during operation of the vent assembly.

Referring now more specifically to the drawings the 'ice numeral it generally designates a building structure in which a bathroom 12 is disposed. A commode bowl generally referred to by the reference numeral 14 is mounted on the floor 1d of the bathroom 12 and includes a conventional seat and cover assembly generally referred to by the reference numeral 13. The seat and cover assembly 18 includes an annular seat section 20 and a generally circular cover section 22. It is of course to be understood that the seat and cover sections 29 and 22 are pivotally secured to the rear portion of the commode bowl in forwardly of the flush tank 24 for movement above axes extending transversely of the commode bowl 14 as is conventional.

The commode bowl vent assembly of the instant invention is generally referred to by the reference numeral 26 and includes passage means in the form of an elongated flexible conduit 28 having an inlet end 3i) and an outlet end 32. An inlet fitting generally referred to by the reference numeral 34 is secured to the inlet end 30 by means of any suitable clamp as and the outlet end of the conduit 28 is secured to the inlet 38 of a blower assembly generally referred to by the reference numeral 4% by means of any suitable clamp 42, The blower assembly includes an outlet 44 and also an impeller (not shown) driven by means of an electric motor 46. An elongated conductor assembly 48 is provided and includes a control switch dd for operatively connecting the motor 46 with a suitable source of electrical potential such as the conventional household electrical systern.

From FIGURE 1 of the drawings it may be seen that an opening 52 is formed in the wall 54 of the bathroom l2 and that the blower assembly 49 is provided with a mounting plate 56 through which the inlet 38 projects. The mounting plate 56 is secured about the opening 52 in any convenient manner such as by fasteners secured through the apertures 58 formed in the plate 56 and the blower assembly til disposed on the side of the mounting plate 56 remote from the free end of the inlet 33 is disposed on the back side of the wall 54 between a pair of joists se. The inlet fitting 34 is removably secured to the seat section 2% in a manner which will hereinafter be more fuily set forth and accordingly, it may be seen that the assembly it) may be utilized to draw objectionable odors from within the commode bowl 14. Operation of the blower 4% will draw the objectionable odors from within the commode bowl l4 and discharge them outwardiy of the outlet 44 which may have any suitable discharge conduit operatively connected thereto, including an outlet end disposed exteriorly of the building ltl.

With attention now directed to FIGURES 2 through 5 of the drawings it may be seen that the inlet fitting 34 includes an outlet end 62 and an inlet end 64 which is generally arcuate in plan. The opposite ends of the inlet end 64 are provided with mounting flanges 66 having recesses formed in one edge thereof which open away from the outlet end 62 of the fitting 3d. The recesses 68 snugly receive the shank portions of headed support members 7i) which are dependingly supported from the undersurface 72 of the seat section 2%. In addition, a second pair of headed support members '74 are provided and are receivable in the oppositely opening recesses 76 formed in the outer free ends '78 of a pair of hell cranks 8% and 82 which are pivotally secured to the inlet fitting 34 by means of suitable pivot pins 84.

The inner free ends 86 and 38 of the bell cranks and 82, are interconnected by means of an expansion spring 9% and accordingly it may be seen that the recessed portions of the bell cranks 8i and 82 are resiliently urged away from each other. The bell cranks 8t and 82 include finger-tabs 92 and 94 respectively which may be grasped e; in order to urge the recessed portions of the bell cranks 80 and 82 toward each other.

It may be seen that the bell cranks 86 and 32 are pivotally secured within the recessed portion 96 of the inlet fitting 34. Still further, it may be seen from FIGURE of the drawings that the under-surface of the fitting 34 is also provided with a recessed portion 93 and that the two recess portions 86 and 33 define a reduced portion 106 of the inlet fitting 34 which extends between the seat section 20 and the upper annular rim portion 102 of the commode bowl 14.

From FIGURE 5 of the drawings it may be seen that the arcuate inlet 64 of the inlet fitting 34 opens downwardly when the seat section 2% is in the lowered position. Accordingly, it may be seen that the objectionable odors within the commode bowl 314 may be readily withdrawn therefrom by operation of the lower assembly 40.

If it is desired, the discharge conduit for the blower assembly of the vent assembly may open upwardly through the roof of the building structure in which the vent assembly is mounted. Additionally, the discharge conduit may open directly into the drain pipe for the commode bowl downstream of the water seal thereof and be provided with its own seal such as a pivoted flap valve.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. In combination with a commode bowl, a vent assembly including passage means having an inlet end and an outlet end, the inlet end of said passage means being disposed inwardly of and adjacent the portion of said bowl defining the upper opening thereof, and blower means having an inlet communicated with outlet end of said passage means and an outlet adapted to be communicated with the exterior of a building in which said commode bowl is disposed, said commode bowl having a seat hingedly secured to the rear portion thereof and which encircles and overlies the upper end of said bowl when in the lower position, said inlet end of said conduit means being supported directly from said seat, said passage means comprising a flexible conduit, the inlet end of said conduit being removably secured to the undersurface of said seat, the inlet end of said conduit having an inlet fitting secured thereto, said seat having at least one headed support member projecting downwardly from its under-surface, said inlet fitting including a mounting flange having a recess formed in one edge thereof in which the portion of said support member disposed between said seat and its head is receivable when said flange generally parallels and closely underlies said seat, said seat also including a pair of spaced headed support members projecting downwardly from its under-surface, said fitting including a pair of flanges mounted for movement toward and away from each other and including oppositely opening recesses in which said pair of headed support members are receivable, and means yieldingly urging said pair of flanges apart.

2. The combination of claim 1 wherein the first mentioned recess opens away from a line extending between said pair of recesses.

3. The combination of claim 1 wherein said flanges comprise one pair of corresponding arms of a pair of bellcranks, said recesses being formed in and opening outwardly of the free ends of said one pair of corresponding arms, said bellcranks being pivotally supported from said inlet end of said conduit means for rotation about generally parallel axes extending transversely of said arms and said conduit means and disposed intermediate the opposite ends of said other pair of corresponding arms, said means yieldingly urging said flanges apart comprising an expansion spring secured between the free ends of the other pair of corresponding arms of said bellcranks.

4. In combination with a commode bowl, a vent assembly including passage means having an inlet end and an outlet end, the inlet end of said passage means being disposed inwardly of and adjacent the portion of said bowl defining the upper opening thereof, and blower means having an inlet communicated with outlet end of said passage means and an outlet adapted to be communicated with the exterior of a building in which said commode bowl is disposed, said commode bowl having a seat hingedly secured to the rear portion thereof and which encircles and overlies the upper end of said bowl when in the lower position, said inlet end of said conduit means being supported directly from said seat, said passage means comprising a flexible conduit, the inlet end of said conduit being removably secured to the under-surface of said seat with its upper surface closely underlying the undersurface of said seat, said seat including a pair of spaced headed support members projecting downwardly from said undersurface and between which said inlet end of said conduit extends, said inlet end of said conduit including a pair of flanges laterally spaced to opposite sides of said conduit and mounted for movement toward and away from each other and including oppositely opening recesses in which said pair of headed support members are receivable, and means yieldingly urging said pair of flanges apart.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,622,993 Cameron Mar. 29, 1927 1,955,579 De Malaussene Apr. 17, 1934 2,171,903 St. Aubin Sept. 5, 1939 2,286,555 Long June 16, 1942 

1. IN COMBINATION WITH A COMMODE BOWL, A VENT ASSEMBLY INCLUDING PASSAGE MEANS HAVING AN INLET END AND AN OUTLET END, THE INLET END OF SAID PASSAGE MEANS BEING DISPOSED INWARDLY OF AND ADJACENT THE PORTION OF SAID BOWL DEFINING THE UPPER OPENING THEREOF, AND BLOWER MEANS HAVING AN INLET COMMUNICATED WITH OUTLET END OF SAID PASSAGE MEANS AND AN OUTLET ADAPTED TO BE COMMUNICATED WITH THE EXTERIOR OF A BUILDING IN WHICH SAID COMMODE BOWL IS DISPOSED, SAID COMMODE BOWL HAVING A SEAT HINGEDLY SECURED TO THE REAR PORTION THEREOF AND WHICH ENCIRCLES AND OVERLIES THE UPPER END OF SAID BOWL WHEN IN THE LOWER POSITION, SAID INLET END OF SAID CONDUIT MEANS BEING SUPPORTED DIRECTLY FROM SAID SEAT, SAID PASSAGE MEANS COMPRISING A FLEXIBLE CONDUIT, THE INLET END OF SAID CONDUIT BEING REMOVABLY SECURED TO THE UNDERSURFACE OF SAID SEAT, THE INLET END OF SAID CONDUIT HAVING AN INLET FITTING SECURED THERETO, SAID SEAT HAVING AT LEAST ONE HEADED SUPPORT MEMBER PROJECTING DOWNWARDLY FROM ITS UNDER-SURFACE, SAID INLET FITTING INCLUDING A MOUNTING FLANGE HAVING A RECESS FORMED IN ONE EDGE THEREOF IN WHICH THE PORTION OF SAID SUPPORT MEMBER DISPOSED BETWEEN SAID SEAT AND ITS HEAD IS RECEIVABLE WHEN SAID FLANGE GENERALLY PARALLELS AND CLOSELY UNDERLIES SAID SEAT, SAID SEAT ALSO INCLUDING A PAIR OF SPACED HEADED SUPPORT MEMBERS PROJECTING DOWNWARDLY FROM ITS UNDER-SURFACE, SAID FITTING INCLUDING A PAIR OF FLANGES MOUNTED FOR MOVEMENT TOWARD AND AWAY FROM EACH OTHER AND INCLUDING OPPOSITELY OPENING RECESSES IN WHICH SAID PAIR OF HEADED SUPPORT MEMBERS ARE RECEIVABLE, AND MEANS YIELDING URGING SAID PAIR OF FLANGES APART. 